Residents can now air their concerns at public hearings concerning proposed construction projects or the establishment of businesses that may impact the environment or quality of life in their communities.

The provisional regulations which ordered the public hearings on environment-related administrative approvals, enacted by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), took effect on July 1.

According to regulations, public hearings will be held on small projects which might cause unpleasant smells, noises, residues or other forms of pollution that affect the living environment of local residents.

Medium and large projects which may have great impact on the environment will also be under the spotlight of public hearings.

In addition, public hearings will be held on development programs in sectors including industry, agriculture, forestry, energy and tourism, which possibly have side environmental effects and are directly linked to public interests.

Zhao, a source with the administration's law and regulation department, said the regulations were enacted because people have been increasingly concerned about construction projects that impact their living space.

Environmental authorities will be required to review results the opinions and concerns expressed during the hearings and consider this feedback in their decision making, he said. "No matter if the authorities heed the opinions expressed or not, the authorities have to give public explanations for their actions," he said.

Any environmental authorities which do not schedule or advertise hearings and thus make them useless will be subject to punishment, he added.

Zhao said before the regulation was approved, there were no detailed requirements for providing public hearings on environment-related administrative approvals.

Xia Guang, director of the administration's Policy Research Centre, said the regulations are the first which specifically address public hearings on environment-related administrative approvals.

"The regulations will strengthen public participation in decision making regarding environmental issues," Xia said.

Vice-Minister of the administration Pan Yue said the general public should be given more opportunities to take part in the policy making process.

He urged environmental authorities to regulate administrative approvals and protect the interests of all citizens, businesses or "legal persons," and other organizations.

In addition to enacting the regulations, the administration will take more measures to improve its work, Pan said.

An environmental policy system that is based on the participation of the public, experts and environmental authorities will be set up so that the policy making process is improved, Pan said.

During the drafting of environmental laws, the opinions of legal experts, environmental workers and the general public are solicited.

Environmental regulations will be examined regularly and amended or abolished accordingly, Pan said.

(China Daily August 11, 2004)